I had to find the origin and the meaning because I
was getting a bit confused about the function, duty and purpose it was created
to serve, I wasn’t surprised at all when I discovered that it all started from
Italia, the Mafias, “Senātus”,
derived from the word “Senex” meaning the old man or more
creatively, THE GODFATHER.
Senate started as the state council of the ancient
Roman republic and empire, which shared legislative power with the popular
assemblies, administration with the magistrates, and judicial power with the
knights. So our 109 supposed “Senātus”
in Nigeria technically shares power with the Reps, The Executive and The
Judiciary and must be a part of anything that goes on within these entire arms
of government. In fact,
"the senate must ratify any treaty with a two-thirds majority".
Meaning the
president do nothing without the approval of two-third of the senate.
At the last State of The Union address by President
Barrack Obama, these words stuck with me and I will quote the interesting part
of it.
“What I offer tonight is a set of concrete, practical proposals to speed up growth, strengthen the middle class, and build new ladders of opportunity into the middle class. Some require Congressional action, and I’m eager to work with all of you (senators). But America does not stand still – and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.”
I was amazed because here in Nigeria, the senate is
not a check and balance entity for other arms of government, the only time they exists is when the budget
is sent in for deliberation on how to “share-the-money”. Once that is settled by
February, the executive becomes an independent arm of the government that acts
without the senate ratifying its actions and the senate then becomes a sit and
sleep gathering, where old fools wake up only to discuss contracts and allowances
before they go back to sleep, to wake up on weekends to attend “Owambe” parties,
a committee of "Yes Men".
Perhaps, I misunderstood the function of the senate? Ours
throw chairs and mace when the allowee and contracts are being blocked or when there
is tussle for power and never in the interest of the state.
Senators are men, (young or old) elected into
congress to represent and serve the interest of the people, but here in
Nigeria, they do the will of the party and presidency for the sake of their
personal purse, damning their primary objective wish is to serve the will of
the people by checking and balancing governance with legislative powers. I
recently watched a Nigerian senate plenary session on NTA and the site was an
eyesore. Half of this "Yes Men" were asleep, I am sure most must have
been snoring and the whole session was blurry until the senate president
smashed his hammer to jerk the lot that were dead back to life… A few mumbled
words, no audible or visible objections from anywhere and smack! again,
"The Hi's have it". No wonder they missed the Pacific Christian University on Stella Oduah's CV when she was screened
as a ministerial nominee, they only woke up to say "HI" at the sound of the hammer.
CNN was
interesting over the weekend. The congress screened ambassadorial nominees of
Obama and there reports were everywhere, plenty NOs or Nays as the case
may be, plus plenty recommendations but I am yet to hear of a situation where
our senate said nay to any executive nominees at any level for any position.
The Ukrainian President
Viktor Yanukovich fled Kiev after acting interior minister says he is wanted
for mass murder with a warrant signed by Congress. The convoy of Kogi state killed Professor Iyayi and nobody
was arrested or questioned, all we got were condolence messages. The Son Of
Abia State Governor, Chinedu Orji Killed was accused of
killing his PA at a rally
organised to flag of his father's Senatorial ambitions and the best we
had of it was the breaking news, no arrest. Four people were killed, while
others were injured by Ondo State Deputy Governor's convoy in February but
nothing was said about it. The first Lady Of Kwara State was alleged to have killed
a Community Leader with her over-speeding convoy but she denied by claiming
that her convoy saw the truck coming, and sped off before the accident happened.
I am not surprised that nothing has happened, Boko Haram killed over 300
hundred Nigerians in a single weekend and all GEJ could say in his media chat
yesterday was
“It is quite worrisome, Surely we’ll get over it.”
When GEJ was
asked about the recent comments by the governor of that state that it appears
the militants have upper hand in the war, his response was plain stupid
“if we pullout the military from Borno state, let us see if he (governor of Borno state) will be able to stay in the government house,”
No sense of
remorse, no compassion, everything is just fine. I am sure if such had happened
in Ghana and the president made such senseless political remarks, the senate
would have a moved a motion for his impeachment but here in Nigeria, most of Senex
are "Yes Men" and PDP so it's cool.
Yes, we will get
over it because today again, 29 young lives were taken in Yola and the senate
is still silent because clueless GEJ is yet to say a word.
ü
We have the Navy and Air Force with hundreds of thousands
of men in service but still, our water ways security is contract to Tombolo and
Dokubo in billions of naira because the senate said YES to it.
ü
The subsidy jumped from a few billions in naira
to trillions of dollars in less than two years, and the senate said YES it's
normal.
ü
Tens of trillions of naira of the nations had
disappeared because the senate said YES you can take it.
ü
Boko Haram is killing Nigerians, GEJ is watching
and the senators are saying YES it's a war film, watch it.
ü
Nigeria is suppose to be a secular state but the
Executive spends billions for religious pilgrimages every year and YES says the
Yes Men
ü
Young girls are being handed out to pedophiles
in marriage and our senators said YES
A lot of yes is
what we get, we can't sit down with our arms folded and watch this insane
senators say YES everything in their old age while they ruin the future of this
great nation. I choose to say No to this Yes Men
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